Abbott seeking drug discovery ideas in Wisconsin; firm’s venture head to speak at Early Stage event

Companies and researchers with drug discovery targets and technologies may apply to present to representatives of Abbott’s Global External Research Organization during a November visit to Madison.

The Abbott delegation will be headed by William Kohlbrenner, director of Global External Research and Global Pharmaceutical Discovery and Development for the Illinois-based company. Abbott is a major pharmaceutical and health care company that operates in more than 130 countries.

Kohlbrenner will speak on the company’s partnering and biotech investment opportunities at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, during the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center. Dr. Kohlbrenner’s research and development areas over time have included cancer, identification of RNAi-based therapies, antiviral drugs and infectious diseases.

The deadline to apply to make one-on-one presentations to Abbott representatives is 5 p.m. Oct. 20. Here is how to apply:

• Visit the Wisconsin Department of Commerce website at www.commerce.wi.gov and click on Wisconsin Strategic Alliances Program-Abbott Matchmaking Event. • Click on Abbott’s “Areas of Interest” for additional information.• Download a non-confidential executive summary form to submit to Abbott.• E-mail your non-confidential executive summary to StrategicAlliances@Wisconsin.gov by 5 p.m. Oct. 20. Those of interest will be contacted for a one-on-one meeting with Abbott, which will hold those meetings Nov. 9 as well as Nov. 10 during the conference.

The Abbott visit to Madison is the result of work by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Biotechnology Strategic Alliance Team, which includes a number of private and public organizations.

The Strategic Alliance, which includes the Wisconsin Technology Council, has worked with Commerce in past visits by major pharmaceutical firms. The goal is to introduce Wisconsin’s drug discovery companies to global firms that can help speed ideas from discovery to market.

“Abbott has broad areas of interest, and the company has made it clear it hopes to review executive summaries from a number of sources,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. “Applications may come from academia, non-profit groups, financial organizations and small- to mid-sized pharmaceutical companies, as well as biotech drug discovery firms.”

The Nov. 10-11 Early Stage Symposium will also feature the sixth annual “Elevator Pitch Olympics” for companies in a seed financing stage and the fourth annual Wisconsin Angel Network Early Stage presentation track for companies seeking angel investments beginning in the $500,000 range.

Nearly 60 companies applied to present. Twenty-two companies will be selected and announced soon for the Angel Network track (Wednesday, Nov. 10) and about 18 for the Elevator Pitch Olympics (Thursday, Nov. 11). Companies in the WAN track feature technologies in major sectors: information technology and Internet services, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, alternative energy and more. These companies are located in communities across Wisconsin as well as other Midwestern states.

The symposium will also feature nationally known speakers and panelists to be announced in coming weeks, the “First Look Forum” for pre-commercial, campus-based discoveries, a reception celebrating early stage companies and 18 panel discussions. Participants in the angel and “Elevator Pitch” tracks will also be eligible to take part in presentation training seminars.

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